When Microsoft discovered that the ASUS EeePC would come with Linux as the standard operating system, Microsoft was "astounded". And so, Microsoft is working hard to create a special version of Windows Vista that's small enough to run on an ASUS EeePC. This is much better (and cheaper) than alternative ways to get Windows on an EeePC. ASUS revealed earlier that with a little bit of tweaking, it is possible to get a retail copy of Windows XP working on the small 2-8GB SSD drive, and still have enough space for applications, and posted Windows XP drivers on their website in response. Neither ASUS or Microsoft have any comment as to when we can see this special version of Vista on the laptop, or how much it will cost.

no doubt M$ is getting worried by the increasing number of users experiencing Linux as their first os and this is a pre-emptive measure to make sure the next generation of PC users continue to be hooked to M$ products.

no doubt Intel is getting worried by the increasing number of users experiencing Linux as their first os and this is a pre-emptive measure to make sure the next generation of PC users continue to be hooked to M$ products.

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I guess you meant Microsoft and not Intel in the first line, heheh. Intel has a lot of drivers and many open sourced stuff for linux afaik.

MS is trying to secure a future for themselves, since they've basically lost the server market already, and Linux is really taking over on the desktop too, and soon, notebooks, what wth the Asus EeePC running Linux as standard.
I don't think many people will use that special Vista on the EeePC, it'll still likely be slow, and if anyone switches to a Windows OS, they'll probably use their old copies of XP or something, but I still think many will just keep Linux, install some office software, a few media players, their favourite web browser, and keep it as a light work laptop.

ASUS revealed earlier that with a little bit of tweaking, it is possible to get a retail copy of Windows XP working on the small 2-8GB SSD drive, and still have enough space for applications, and posted Windows XP drivers on their website in response.

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Vista on a 2GB SD card, on a computer with an 900mhz processor and 256mb RAM? Oh, I'm going to just love this.

Ten bucks says they just put a fancy skin on Windows 98 and start boxing it up for retail.

9400m/9600mGT 256MB - almost always using 9400m due to heat and battery

Hard Disk(s):

Corsair Nova V64 - only need 30GB for my install

Optical Drive:

There's one, just don't know when I last used it!

LCD/CRT Model:

1440x900 15" MBP screen + 1680x1050 20" Dell TFT

Case:

Crumpler Dark Side to protect the MBP

Sound Card:

Crappy stock on-board one

Power Supply:

Big battery and small power brick

Software:

OS X SL, Chrome, Eclipse, Parallels, VS 2010 EE

Even worse, SSDs have limited reads and writes, so while the standard Linux distro that's being used may have something preventing multiple reads and writes, to lower damage to the SSD, with Vista, it may basically write every little change to the SSD, one at a time, which would really lower the MTF. Although MS may build something as protection.

Foxconn Blackops (24 pin connector is loose so power cable has to be plugged in just right)

Cooling:

Thermalright Ultra 120

Memory:

4x 2Gb Crucial Ballistix 7-7-7-9

Video Card(s):

EVGA GTX 570 SC (running below stock due to stability issues)

Hard Disk(s):

1 x 320 GB Seagate 7200 rpm SATA 3 (Very slow)

Optical Drive:

LG DVD-RW 24x (yes, I still use an optical drive)

LCD/CRT Model:

Samsung 24inch 1920x1080

Case:

Cooler Master ATX Mid Tower Something Something

Sound Card:

Diamond Extreme 7.1 24bit (New and the audio out connector is already shot)

Power Supply:

PC Power and Cooling 700 W (refurbished)

Software:

Windows 8.1 (for games)

a smaller and lighter vista is a great idea and could sell quite well if programmed properly. i still dont see the advantage of using vista over linux on something like asus makes. linux can do everything vista does with almost half the resources and it is free. the only thing you cant do is play games written for windows. well you could through wine and other programs, but you know what i mean.

1./ Perhaps MS are developing Windows CE Vista, a souped up version of CE rather than a cut down version of Vista. Or as pervious posters said, perhaps a cut down version of windows, but more likely based on the "MinWin" kernel rather than Vista.

2./ Never mind linux or Vista, 2-8GB is a silly number. You can buy 4GB USB sticks at any retail store these days, and you get 8GB in the new mini iPods. Given the SIZE of the Asus (huge compared to a keystick or the new ipod), and the available functionality, then they should have at least 20-40GB on the device for a full application suite, and data storage. It could be in 2 partitions. A *fast* system partition with the expensive flash RAM and very high read/write capability, say 8GB, for OS and applications, and a partition of cheaper flash for data. That would keep costs down but allow for greater flexibility of use.

= perfect for on the road email, PDF, Office suite etc. In fact, that's probably the KEY DRIVER of MS decision: ensure corporate buyers stick with MS Office and dont migrate to OpenOffice because their executives have these machines running linux. Can you imagine... multi million dollar spend coporations saying "oh, OO works and is OK, lets drop MSO and save a bundle", followed by "oh, we dont need Windows anymore now that we are running linux servers and linux laptops".

like someone stated before.... MS doesnt want someone buying this PC (which a lot will because of the price) and getting their first taste of Lunix ....

A lot of people dont want to use Lunix because they know windows.....but MS knows that if people try it, they might just like it. So they will do whatever they can to make sure they have their software on this.

LoL
Microsoft is getting worried. Will this version cost the same as the Linux version?
On another note. This will get a lot of people sucked into MS's new operating system. So in a way its a very smart move.

I just installed Ubuntu for the first time (7.10) and I received a very good impression. My Dell 600M laptop had drivers for everything available, even when using the Live CD. My Laptop uses a BroadCom wireless adapter and even that was working fine in the Live CD. When I installed Windows XP, it was about 2 hours of installing drivers, updates, and rebooting before I was finally in a useable state. Now, it is done before even installing the thing...

If they take this cut down Vista, keep DX9/10, streamline it a little bit, or make a Vista Gamer Edition or something that's light, compatible and less bloat maybe I'll go back to it! I'm almost suprised MS didn't do anything earlier about this...lol.

vistas an excellent OS and with microsoft working to implement it onto smaller devices it can only get better. Because lets face it not everybody is capable of using linux distros... Which can not be said about windows!
Worried about the use of SSD though and thrashing of the drive....

Actually, driver support is wonderful in the newest version (especially video card support), as you'd find out if you'd check the site before trying to sling mud. There's no more messing around in a terminal anymore.

If they take this cut down Vista, keep DX9/10, streamline it a little bit, or make a Vista Gamer Edition or something that's light, compatible and less bloat maybe I'll go back to it! I'm almost suprised MS didn't do anything earlier about this...lol.

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Microsoft never does anything unless they're forced to by market pressure (potential or real). I betcha they couldn't care less what our end experience with their product is, as long as we keep using it.